In 1860, Pittsylvania County had one of the largest slave population in the state (14,340 slaves). Ten years later in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (16,084) - the town of Danville in particular.<ref name="no">''Ninth Census of the United States: Statistics of Population, Tables I to VIII Inclusive'' (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1872), 70. Digital version at [http://archive.org/stream/ninthcensusunit00offigoog#page/n73/mode/1up Internet Archive]; {{FHL|281281|item|disp=FHL Book 973 X2pcu}}.</ref>

*Turner, Ronald Ray. ''[http://www.pwcvabooks.com/documents/VirginiaCivilWarVets.doc Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890]''. Available online, courtesy: [http://www.pwcvabooks.com/index.htm Prince William County Virginia] website. [Includes residents of this county.]

*Turner, Ronald Ray. ''[http://www.pwcvabooks.com/documents/VirginiaCivilWarVets.doc Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890]''. Available online, courtesy: [http://www.pwcvabooks.com/index.htm Prince William County Virginia] website. [Includes residents of this county.]

−

==== Church ====

+

==== Church Records ====

===== General =====

===== General =====

Line 178:

Line 188:

#'''Bennett's''' (1790)<ref name="baptist" />

#'''Bennett's''' (1790)<ref name="baptist" />

−

#'''Birch Creek''' (1787)<ref name="baptist" />

+

#'''Birch Creek''' (by 1769).<ref name="baptist" /><ref name="mat">Morgan Edwards, ''Materials Towards a History of the Baptists in the Provinces of Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia'' (1772). Digitized by [http://repository.clemson.edu/u?/jbt,3 SCDL Collections] - free.</ref> Edwards published a membership list dated 1769 in [http://repository.clemson.edu/u?/jbt,20 ''Materials Towards a History of the Baptists...''] (1772), 24. Edwards states many of these families had moved to Pittsylvania County from Fauquier County.

#'''Dan River''' (by 1767).<ref name="mat" /> Edwards published a list of early members in [http://repository.clemson.edu/u?/jbt,41 ''Materials Towards a History of the Baptists...''] (1772), 52.

#'''Double Creek''' (1803)<ref name="baptist" />

#'''Double Creek''' (1803)<ref name="baptist" />

+

#'''Fall Creek''' (1771).<ref name="mat" /> Edwards published a membership list dated 1770 in [http://repository.clemson.edu/u?/jbt,45 ''Materials Towards a History of the Baptists...''] (1772), 56-57.

#'''Lower Banister''' (1798)<ref name="baptist" />

#'''Lower Banister''' (1798)<ref name="baptist" />

#'''Mill Church''' (1770)<ref name="baptist">Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, ''A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia'' (Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 303-304. Digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=t6RhTC8ziQQC Google Books].</ref>

#'''Mill Church''' (1770)<ref name="baptist">Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, ''A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia'' (Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 303-304. Digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=t6RhTC8ziQQC Google Books].</ref>

#'''Shockhoe '''(1803)<ref name="baptist" />

#'''Shockhoe '''(1803)<ref name="baptist" />

+

#'''Stanton''' (1761).<ref name="mat">Morgan Edwards, ''Materials Towards a History of the Baptists in the Provinces of Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia'' (1772). Digitized by [http://repository.clemson.edu/u?/jbt,83 SCDL Collections] - free.</ref>

*Hudgins, [http://www.directlinesoftware.com/pool.htm 1440 patents dated 1738-1819 in what is now Pittsylvania County, Virginia placed on a map]. DeedMapper, 2004.&nbsp;[Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's [http://www.directlinesoftware.com/ DeedMapper]&nbsp;product.]

*Hudgins, [http://www.directlinesoftware.com/pool.htm 1440 patents dated 1738-1819 in what is now Pittsylvania County, Virginia placed on a map]. DeedMapper, 2004.&nbsp;[Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's [http://www.directlinesoftware.com/ DeedMapper]&nbsp;product.]

*Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. ''Virginia's Colonial Soldiers''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at {{FHL|47143|title-id|disp=FHL}}. [Identifies some Pittsylvania County veterans; see place name index.]

*Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. ''Virginia's Colonial Soldiers''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at {{FHL|47143|title-id|disp=FHL}}. [Identifies some Pittsylvania County veterans; see place name index.]

−

===== '''''Revolutionary War''''' =====

+

===== Revolutionary War =====

'''''Regiments.''''' Service men in Pittsylvania County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Pittsylvania County supplied soldiers for the:

'''''Regiments.''''' Service men in Pittsylvania County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Pittsylvania County supplied soldiers for the:

Line 278:

Line 311:

*Hurt, Frances Hallam. ''An Intimate History of the American Revolution in Pittsylvania County, Virginia''. Danville, Virginia: Womack Press, 1976. Available at {{FHL|112589|title-id|disp=FHL}}.

*Hurt, Frances Hallam. ''An Intimate History of the American Revolution in Pittsylvania County, Virginia''. Danville, Virginia: Womack Press, 1976. Available at {{FHL|112589|title-id|disp=FHL}}.

*''A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]''. 1841. Digital versions at [http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1840c-01.pdf U.S. Census Bureau] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=W7JYAAAAMAAJ Google Books] ''et. al''. 1967 reprint: {{FHL|282860|item}} 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Pittsylvania County on page 132.]

*''A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]''. 1841. Digital versions at [http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1840c-01.pdf U.S. Census Bureau] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=W7JYAAAAMAAJ Google Books] ''et. al''. 1967 reprint: {{FHL|282860|item}} 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Pittsylvania County on page 132.]

Indexed images of the [http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/BrowseVG.cfm Virginia Gazette ](1736-1780) are available online through the [http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/ Colonial Williamsburg ]website. In addition, Professor Tom Costa and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia have created a database of all runaway advertisements for slaves, indentured servants, transported convicts, and ship deserters listed in this source and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: [http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/ The Geography of Slavery in Virginia]. These newspapers are valuable resources for all regions of Virginia.

Indexed images of the [http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/BrowseVG.cfm Virginia Gazette ](1736-1780) are available online through the [http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/ Colonial Williamsburg ]website. In addition, Professor Tom Costa and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia have created a database of all runaway advertisements for slaves, indentured servants, transported convicts, and ship deserters listed in this source and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: [http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/ The Geography of Slavery in Virginia]. These newspapers are valuable resources for all regions of Virginia.

Line 335:

Line 375:

*'''[Shelton] '''Shelton, William Christopher and&nbsp;R.D. Ricketts. ''A Diary Kept by William C. Shelton for the Year 1850: The Daily Journal of a School Master and Farmer of Pittsylvania County, Virginia''. n.p.: n.p., 199-?. {{FHL|1232276|item|disp=FHL Collection}}.

*'''[Shelton] '''Shelton, William Christopher and&nbsp;R.D. Ricketts. ''A Diary Kept by William C. Shelton for the Year 1850: The Daily Journal of a School Master and Farmer of Pittsylvania County, Virginia''. n.p.: n.p., 199-?. {{FHL|1232276|item|disp=FHL Collection}}.

African American

In 1860, Pittsylvania County had one of the largest slave population in the state (14,340 slaves). Ten years later in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (16,084) - the town of Danville in particular.[3]

The 10,000 name petition (dated 16 October 1776) has been digitized at the Library of Congress website. It was signed by people from all over Virginia who wanted an end to persecution of Baptists by the Established Church. Baptists and Baptist sympathizers alike signed the petition. To find your ancestor in this record, first check Hall's transcription in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (Vols. 35-38, with annotations in Vol. 39), which is available online at Ancestry ($). It is also available in book form at the Family History Library: FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v. 35-39. Then proceed to the Library of Congress website to see the original images.

Pittsylvania County fell within the bounds of the Roanoke Association.

Immigration

Land and Property

Grants and Patents

Land patents (pre-1779), land grants (after 1779) and surveys are available online at the Library of Virginia website. For step-by-step instructions on retrieving these records, read the Virginia Land and Property article.

Elliott, Katherine B. Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 2 vols. South Hill, Virginia: K.B. Elliott, 1966. Vol. 1 of original edition available at FHL; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at FHL; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at FHL. [Includes individuals who migrated out of Pittsylvania County to other parts of the country.]

French and Indian War

Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. [Identifies some Pittsylvania County veterans; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War

Regiments. Service men in Pittsylvania County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Pittsylvania County supplied soldiers for the:

Daughters of the American Colonists. Texas Society. The Rose Window of San Jose Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. San Antonio De Bexar Chapter (San Antonio, Tex.), Lucy Alice Posey. Patriots Who Took the Oath of Allegiance, 1777, Pittsylvania County, Virginia: Notarized by Pittsylvania County Clerk. The Chapter, 1977.

Hurt, Frances Hallam. An Intimate History of the American Revolution in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Danville, Virginia: Womack Press, 1976. Available at FHL.

A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Bookset. al. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Pittsylvania County on page 132.]

List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FHL Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Pittsylvania County, p. 98. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

Regiments. Service men in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Genealogy served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Genealogy:

Clement, Maud Carter. War Recollections of the Confederate Veterans of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 1861-1865. Chatham, Virginia: The Rawley Martin Chapter, Virginia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1961. Reviewed by Mildred K. Bushong in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 70, No. 2 (Apr. 1962):215-217. Review available at JSTOR ($).

McClurken, Jeffrey W. After the Battle: Reconstructing the Confederate Veteran Family in Pittsylvania County and Danville, Virginia, 1860-1900. Johns Hopkins University, 2002.

Naturalization

Newspapers

Indexed images of the Virginia Gazette (1736-1780) are available online through the Colonial Williamsburg website. In addition, Professor Tom Costa and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia have created a database of all runaway advertisements for slaves, indentured servants, transported convicts, and ship deserters listed in this source and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: The Geography of Slavery in Virginia. These newspapers are valuable resources for all regions of Virginia.

Occupations

Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. Available at FHL. [Includes a section on Danville silversmiths.]

Private Papers

[Shelton] Shelton, William Christopher and R.D. Ricketts. A Diary Kept by William C. Shelton for the Year 1850: The Daily Journal of a School Master and Farmer of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. n.p.: n.p., 199-?. FHL Collection.

Probate Records

A free index to Pittsylvania County, Virginia Genealogy wills and administrations (being indexed) is available at the Library of Virginia website.

[1787] Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Available at FHL. [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Pittsylvania County is included in Vol. 1.]

[1810] Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Pittsylvania County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.]

[1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Pittsylvania County is included in Vol. 2.]

Death

Vital Record Substitutes

The Virginia Historical Society's Marriage and Obituary Index, 1736-1820 (newspaper abstracts) is available for free online. Images of the original index cards are browseable, arranged alphabetically by surname.

Pittsylvania County, Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries

Bassett Historical Center, Bassett, Virginia. Website includes descriptions of collections. Excellent resource for family history research in Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties in Virginia, the city of Martinsville, Virginia, and Rockingham, Stokes and Surry counties in North Carolina.[21]

↑Ninth Census of the United States: Statistics of Population, Tables I to VIII Inclusive (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1872), 70. Digital version at Internet Archive; FHL Book 973 X2pcu.

↑ 5.05.15.25.35.45.5Morgan Edwards, Materials Towards a History of the Baptists in the Provinces of Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia (1772). Digitized by SCDL Collections - free. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "mat" defined multiple times with different content

↑George Washington Paschal, History of North Carolina Baptists, 2 vols. (1930; reprint, Gallatin, Tenn.: Church History Research and Archives, 1990), 1:233. FHL Book 975.6 K2p 1990.